Comments on: Luxury’s Loss is Middle Markets’ Gain http://insidetheaisle.com/2009/09/luxurys-loss-is-middle-markets-gain/ Purpose Driven Retail...Linking strategic retail design and the shopper mind. Fri, 25 Mar 2011 23:42:35 +0000 hourly 1 By: editor http://insidetheaisle.com/2009/09/luxurys-loss-is-middle-markets-gain/comment-page-1/#comment-2473 editor Thu, 17 Sep 2009 18:24:42 +0000 http://insidetheaisle.com/?p=1159#comment-2473 You make a good point, Nick. We talk a lot about product innovation in American business but we forget about other ways to bring freshness to the marketplace. When things were good people were looking for the next big thing to invest in. However, now that investment funds have dried up I think we'll see a lot less product innovation from the young and the enterprising. I think what we'll see in terms of new ideas will come in the form of the way retailers interact with shoppers. And...I bet, it will be a lot more cost effective for those companies to invest in innovative marketing , such as shopper marketing, in-store experience and second life, versus the costs associated with R&D of new products. You make a good point, Nick. We talk a lot about product innovation in American business but we forget about other ways to bring freshness to the marketplace. When things were good people were looking for the next big thing to invest in. However, now that investment funds have dried up I think we’ll see a lot less product innovation from the young and the enterprising.

I think what we’ll see in terms of new ideas will come in the form of the way retailers interact with shoppers. And…I bet, it will be a lot more cost effective for those companies to invest in innovative marketing , such as shopper marketing, in-store experience and second life, versus the costs associated with R&D of new products.

]]> By: Nick Johnson http://insidetheaisle.com/2009/09/luxurys-loss-is-middle-markets-gain/comment-page-1/#comment-2472 Nick Johnson Thu, 17 Sep 2009 13:29:18 +0000 http://insidetheaisle.com/?p=1159#comment-2472 GROWTH is less of an immediate concern than SHAKEOUT, in my opinion. I am wondering how any and all sectors of the retail market (as a whole) will be re-structured or will this be a recycling of the same players under new ownership? How long can we buy and sell the same players to re-package and re-sell? So my key question is... Where have all the INNOVATORS gone? Where have all the audacious and bold risk-takers gone? The time is ripe... speak now or forever hold the memory of opportunities passed-by and thoughts of what could have been. E-mail me at Nick.Johnson@millerzell.com if you have a retail idea that you believe is an opportunity to shape the future of our industry GROWTH is less of an immediate concern than SHAKEOUT, in my opinion. I am wondering how any and all sectors of the retail market (as a whole) will be re-structured or will this be a recycling of the same players under new ownership? How long can we buy and sell the same players to re-package and re-sell? So my key question is…

Where have all the INNOVATORS gone? Where have all the audacious and bold risk-takers gone? The time is ripe… speak now or forever hold the memory of opportunities passed-by and thoughts of what could have been.

E-mail me at Nick.Johnson@millerzell.com if you have a retail idea that you believe is an opportunity to shape the future of our industry

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